Effect of Rotational Shifts Schedule on the Well-being of Public & Private Nurses of Sindh: Pakistan

Abstract

Research objective: To assess the effect of rational shift schedules on the well-being of public and private nurses in different hospitals in Sindh.
Study Design: It was a descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.
Place and duration of Study: The research was carried out at five different Public and Private hospitals; public hospital included (R.B.U.T) Civil Hospital Shikarpur, Ganga Bai Women (HGBW) Hospital Shikarpur, Civil Hospital Jacobabad and Private Hospital included Dr. Zeenat Isani Institute of Medical Sciences (ZIMS) Shikarpur, Jacobabad Institute of Medical Sciences (JIMS) Jacobabad. Moreover, this study started from 25th January 2025- to 25th February 2025. 
Material and Methods: The targeted population included all the hospital nurses who are working in different wards of the hospitals including Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Emergency Room (ER), Female Surgical Ward (FSW), Male Surgical Ward (MSW), Female Medical Ward (FMW), Male Medical Ward (MMW), Pediatrics Ward (PW), Neonate Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Nutritional Ward (NW), and Gynecology (GW). A convenient sampling method was used for data collection. The total sample size was 108, which was obtained through open EPI. 
Results: The table (01) shows that the male frequency is n=29 (26.8%), and the female frequency is n=31 (28.7%). This table also revealed that the female frequency is slightly higher than the male frequency. Moreover (table 02) shows that the male frequency is 32 (29.6%), whereas the female frequency is n=16 (14.81%). This table also revealed that the male frequency is higher than the female frequency. (Table: 03) shows that the age limit from 20-30 years, where the frequency was (n= 47) and Percentage (43.5%); moreover, the age limit from 30-40 years, where the frequency was (n=53) and Percentage (49%), this table also revealed that the frequency of age limit from (40-50) n=8 where Percentage is (7.4%).
Conclusion: This study revealed that any institution that wants to serve patients around the clock must have shift workers. Shift work is necessary for nurses to provide continuous, high-quality care, yet it has specific negative implications on patient safety and nurses’ health. Adverse impacts can be social, psychological, spiritual, or bodily. Shift workers have complained of headaches, exhaustion or fatigue, and Stomach problems. Shift employment has been positively linked to mental health issues like stress and anxiety.